"Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't need to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermo-dynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

" This is the judgement. Life's most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?"

"Yes, if you want to, say that I was a drum major. Say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind."

"When I say love at this point, I am Not talking about an affectionate emotion. It's nonsense to urge oppressed people to love their oppressors in an affectionate sense. I'm talking about something much deeper. I'm talking about a sort of understanding creative redemptive goodwill for all men."